The scientists who precisely measure Earth’s position are facing an unexpected challenge. Their work, essential for the satellites that power navigation, communication, and climate monitoring, depends on tracking black holes in distant galaxies. But now, signals from everyday technologies like WiFi, mobile phones, and satellite internet are crowding the radio spectrum, creating a traffic jam that threatens this vital science.
Why We Need Black Holes
Modern life runs on satellites. Whether it’s GPS navigation, climate change monitoring, global supply chains, or online banking, our civilization depends on knowing exactly where those satellites are at every moment.
This accuracy relies on the global geodesy supply chain:
- First, scientists establish a reference frame anchored to relatively fixed objects in the universe.
- Because Earth, the Sun, and the galaxy are all moving, the best stable anchors are supermassive black holes at the hearts of distant galaxies.
- These black holes spew streams of radio emissions as they consume stars and gas.
Using very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), a global network of radio telescopes locks onto these faint signals. The technique untangles Earth’s rotation and wobble from satellite motion, providing the precision modern systems demand.
Different Lanes on the Radio Highway
Radio telescopes tune in to the black holes’ faint emissions because radio waves:
- Pass cleanly through Earth’s atmosphere.
- Can be detected day and night, in any weather.
Historically, radio astronomy had dedicated frequency bands. But in past decades, scientists often strayed outside these lanes to capture black hole signals with higher precision.
Radio Traffic on the Rise
Today, human-made electromagnetic pollution has exploded.
- Six generations of mobile phone technology each occupy new frequency lanes.
- Thousands of internet satellites beam connections worldwide.
- The spectrum is increasingly crowded.
Even when scientists move to higher frequencies, the signals are often too strong to see through to the faint black hole emissions. This puts precise satellite positioning—and everything that depends on it—at risk.
What Can Be Done?
Solutions will require global cooperation and awareness:
More frequency lanes reserved for science. When international treaties carve up the spectrum, geodesists must have a seat at the table.
Radio quiet zones. Critical observatories could be protected from direct interference.
Coordination with satellite providers. Companies can avoid pointing their emissions directly at sensitive telescopes.
The radio spectrum is mostly regulated country by country, so achieving this won’t be simple. But maintaining clear access to these cosmic anchors is essential for everything from supply chains to financial transactions.
The Bottom Line
If we want our navigation systems to keep working, our supermarkets stocked, and our digital world secure, we need to protect the ability to see those distant black holes. In an increasingly crowded radio spectrum, making space for science is more urgent than ever.
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